Cut-off stop motion apparatus for spinning frame



T. E. BATEY 3,314,226

CUT-OFF STOP MOTION APPARATUS FOR SPINNING FRAME April 18, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 18, 1964 T- E. BATEY A ril 18, 1967 CUT-OFF STOP MOTION APPARATUS FOR SPINNING FRAME 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec.

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CUTOFF STOP MOTION APPARATUS FOR SPINNING FRAME Filed Dec. 18, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 83 /6E 32 i: Q M( Q 1- I J e0 62 64 (54 av 70 3 24 United States Patent 3,314,226 CUT-DEF STOP MOTION APPARATUS FOR SPINNING FRAME Thomas E. Batey, 40 Silver Hill, Weston, Mass. 02193 Filed Dec. 18, 1964, Ser. No. 419,370 Claims. (Cl. 5781) This invention relates to a cut-off stop motion for a textile machine and, in particular, to a textile machine of the spinning frame type in which a relatively coarse single strand of roving is passed through drafting rolls and drawn out and spun to a thread of relatively fine diameter and thereafter wound about a spindle member.

In another form of cut-off stop motion described in Patent No. 2,555,219 issued to me May 29, 1951, I have disclosed a mechanically actuated strand shearing and holding mechanism by means of which effective cutting and holding of all of the strands of a twister frame may be carried out whenever a break in one of the strands occurs. As set forth in my earlier patent it frequently happens that a broken or run-out strand not only results in the formation of an imperfect product on its own spindle, but may also cause other troubles. Thus the unsecured end of a broken strand may run across and become entangled with the strands of adjacent spindles. In other instances an end of a broken strand may become attached to the feed rolls of the twister and work itself about these rolls requiring additional time and labor to remove the turns before tying in.

The difficulties indicated are avoided to a large extent by the cut-off stop motion of Patent No. 2,555,219 which is especially designed for use with a twisting frame. However, somewhat similar difi'iculties are experienced in operating a spinning frame and this is particularly the case in reference to strand breakage at the point where the roving has been drawn out and spun into a much smaller diameter thread.

It is a chief object of the invention, therefore, to devise an improved means for cutting and holding a broken roving at the time when breaking occurs in a spinning frame between the drafting rolls and the winding spindle.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an electrically operated cut-off stop motion actuated by a strand supported sensing device arranged in a novel manner so as to instantly change position in the event a strand break occurs, particularly at those points where a strand of roving has become spun out into a relatively smaller diameter thread.

Still another object of the invention is to devise an arrangement of drop wire sensing means and electrical contact elements which can be adjusted to lie in an angular coincident position with any one of a number of positions of angularity assumed by a spun thread leaving the drafting rolls of a given spinning frame.

Still another object of the invention is to devise a cutofi stop motion which, when actuated, will operate a signal light and which may be conveniently reset when a broken thread has been tied together.

The nature of the invention and its other objects and novel features will be more fully understood and appreciated from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a spinning frame unit having the cut-off stop motion of the invention combined therewith in a typical operative position;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the spinning frame;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the machine shown in FIGURES 1 and 2;

FIGURE 4 is a detail elevational view of electrically controlled cutter means of the invention;

FIGURE 5 is a cross section taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 but showing the cutter means in a closed position;

FIGURE 7 is a detail plan view of a thread gate and switch control device with a thread therein;

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 7 with no thread being supported;

FIGURE 9 is a detail elevational view of the gate switch also showing a strand being supported therethrough;

FIGURE 10 is a detail cross sectional view indicating diagrammatically a thread maintaining the gate switch in an open position;

FIGURE 11 is a view similar to FIGURE 10 but showing the thread removed and the gate switch closed; and

FIGURE 12 is a diagrammatic view illustrating one suitable wiring arrangement for the electrical components of the invention.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, a conventional spinning frame is shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 including a base member 2 of some suitable form on which is secured a frame piece 4 having an L-shaped extension 6. At the bottom of extension 6 is vertically disposed a spindle unit generally denoted by arrow S and being of well-known construction. At the upper side of frame piece 4 is another frarne structure 8 from which is suspended a bobbin 10 of roving 12. Numerals 14 and 16 denote drafting rolls of customary form through which the roving 12 is drawn by spindle S being led through a guide 18.

In accordance with the invention, I provide a cut-off stop motion generally-indicated by arrow 20 and which may be located at some convenient point between the drafting rolls 14 and 16 and the bobbin 10 as, for example, on the top 4a of frame 4 in slightly spaced relation in back of the rolls 14 and 16. I also provide an electrical control unit for selectively actuating the cut-off stop motion and this electrical control unit, generally indicated by the arrow C, is positioned below drafting rolls 14 and 16 and at some point above the top of the spindle S.

It will be understood that spinning frame construction varies in different respects and the mechanism of the invention is intended to be used with various forms of spinning frame arrangements and is not therefore limited to the particular mounting described below. It will also be understood that any desired number of units may be utilized to handle single rovings from a plurality of bobbins arranged in banks or rows in a spinning frame and the description of a single unit is intended to be illustrative of a plurality of units.

Considering in greater detail the stop motion 20 I may, in one preferred form, provide an enclosure body 24 at the outer side of which is secured upper and lower roving guides 26 and 28 through which the roving 12 passes as shown in FIGURE 1. Also supported on the enclosure body 24, between the guides 26 and 28, is a cutting and holding mechanism consisting of a fixed cutter blade 30, a holding spring clip'32, and a movable cutter blade 34. All of these three members are supported on a bracket 36 at the front of the enclosure body.

The movable cutter blade 34 is pivotally attached at 35 to slide rod 40 which extends transversely through the front wall 24a of the enclosure body 24 as noted in FIG- URES 5 and 6. At its inner extremity rod 40 is pinned to a link 42 which in turn is pivotally supported at its central section on a fixed mounting 44 as noted in FIGURE 4. The lower end of link 42 is also pinned to a reset rod 46 having a knob 48 which can be grasped to pull the reset rod outwardly and thus move the cutter blade 34 through the link 42 and slide rod 49 into an opened position.

The reset rod 46 is guided through a block 58 mounted in the bottom of the enclosure body 24. The inner extremity of the reset rod 46 is provided with a fixed pin 52 which projects downwardly and slidably engages in a slot 54 of a pivoting element 56 pinned to the bottom of enclosure 24 at 58 as best shown in FIGURE 6. The pivoting element is formed with a notched end 60.

When the reset rod 46 is retracted it acts through its pin 52 to rotate member 56 from the position shown in FIGURE 6 into the position shown in FIGURE 5, where the notched part 68 becames engaged with and is held by a spring-loaded latch part 62. The latch part 62 is pivotally attached at 64 in a fixed block 66 so that it may releasably engage the notched part as noted above. With the reset rod 46 fully retracted, and the latch 62 engaged in part 61), the cutter blade 34 is normally held in the open position shown in FIGURE 5 and remains in this position as long as the latch is held in engagement with 60.

Release of latch 62 from the notched part is carried out in accordance with the invention by an electromagnet device which is controlled by an electrical switch. The electrical switch is actuated by a strand break occuring and producing a change in tension in a novel thread gate memher. The electromagnet device includes a coil 70 shown in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 supported on the bottom of enclosure body 24 in a slightly raised position. The coil 70 has its armature closely positioned to a spring arm 74 resiliently supported on a post 76 and formed with a depending end which is adapted, when attracted by the magnetized armature, to move against the latch 62 and disengage it from the notched part 60. This allows a spring 80 to instantly move the cutter 34 into a cutting position as shown in FIGURE 6.

As one suitable means of energizing the coil 70 in re sponse to a strand break, I provide for flow of current from a suitable supply line through conductors 82 and 84 to terminal block 83 (FIGURE 6). Current is conducted to coil 70 under the control of a novel gate switch 86 which forms a part of the control unit C earlier noted.

This gate switch 86 includes a housing, preferably of tubular form, having therein an electrical connection 87 as shown in FIGURES 10 and 11. This connection 87 is wired to the terminal block 83. As shown in FIGURES 10 and 11 an electrical contact element 90 projects inwardly of the tubular body 86 in a position to be engaged by a pivoted electrical contact element 92 normally urged against the contact 90 by a spring 94 anchored at 96. The contact 92 is fixed to an elongated pivoting rod 98 which projects upwardly through the tubular body 86 as best shown in FIGURE 9 and the upper end of the pivoting rod 98 is retained in an upper bearing part 100 secured to a strand gate support 102 which projects upwardly from the tubular body 86 and may be attached to the part 86 already formed integrally therewith.

Secured to the strand gate support 102 is a strand guiding gate which includes a pair of fixed wire guide loops 104, 106 located one above another and a pair of movable guide loops 108, 110. The movable guide loops 108, are formed with angularly bent portions which may extend through a respective stationary guide loop portion in the manner suggested in FIGURE 8. As shown in that figure the bent end of movable loop 108 projects through a portion of the fixed loop 104. The movable guide loops 108, 110 are secured to the pivoting rod 98 in the manner diagrammatically suggested in FIG- URE 11 and also shown in FIGURES 9 and 10 and a finger lever 112 projects outwardly into a convenient position to be engaged and swung back manually when an operator wishes to perform this operation. The tension of spring 94 acting on pivoting rod 98 normally operates to force the guide loops 108, 110 through the stationary guide loops 104, 106 as suggested in FIGURE 8. However, the guide loops 108, 110 are supported sufliciently lightly by the springs so that they may be readily forced apart by threading a strand of thread therethrough in the position shown in FIGURE 1 and also indicated by the strand 116 in FIGURE 9. A transversely disposed stop 118 acts to limit the extent to which the strand 116 may enter between the movable and stationary guide loops described.

In mounting the novel gate switch of the invention in a position to receive a strand and maintain the switch in an open position, it is found that considerable variation may occur in the angularity of the path of travel of the strand as it leaves the drafting rolls of a spinning frame and approaches the spindle to be wound. This is due to variance in the construction of differenet types of spinning .frames and an important feature of the gate switch of the invention is the provision of means for adjusting the movable and stationary wire guides into angularly coincident positions with respect to any given angularity of path of travel of a particular type of spinning frame employed.

As shown in FIGURE 7, the strand gate support and the tubular switch body 86 are mounted at one end of a transverse support rod to which is secured a collar 132. The rod 130 and collar 132 are rotatable in a bearing 134 which is adjustably secured against an arm 136 by a fastening member 138. The arm 136, as shown in FIGURE 1, may be solidly secured at its inner end against the upright portion of member 4.

The bearing 134 is specially formed with studs 14-0 and 142 which cooperate with a handle 144 to provide a limited arc of rotation through which the rod 130 and the strand guide may be swung. Thus it will be observed that with the handle 144 in a forwardmost position, such as shown in FIGURE 1 for example, the gate may be positioned in an almost vertical position and from this position it may be adjusted rearwardly into any other desired position of angularity which will provide for a strand running smoothly through the guide loops and being engaged by all of the loops noted. It will be appreciated that with drawn out spun threads there may occur relatively Weak portions which are susceptible to breaking especially where any clogging or jamming may occur, and the particular positioning and construction of the gate thread switch provides a sensitive device which will permit free travel of a thread therethrough in all positions of angularity which may be encountered.

In operating the stop motion of the invention, therefore, it will be understood that the reset rod is placed in a fully retracted position and a running strand is engaged in the thread guide. When a break occurs the thread gate closes the contact 92 against the contact 90 and an electrical support is completed through the coil 70 which through the member 74 releases the latch member and the movable blade 34 closes. The cutting blade 34 not only cuts the thread, but engages it between the spring clip 32 and the stationary cutter 31) so that occurrence of a loose strand end is prevented.

At this point, when a strand break occurs, I further provide for a signal light being energized to indicate to an operator that a break has occurred. This is accomplished in one convenient manner by means of a signal lamp mounted in the part 24a as shown in FIGURE 4 and having electrical conductors which extend between the terminal 83 and a special switch 162 best shown in FIGURE 5. This switch 162 is shown diagrammatically in FIGURE 12 and includes fixed contacts 164 and 166 which can be engaged by a movable contact element 168 projecting downwardly into the path of travel of a pin 170 fixed in the reset rod 46. The arrangement described provides for the movement of the reset rod, when retracted, engaging the contact 168 against contact 166 and a normally open circuit results. When, however, the reset rod is moved by the spring upon energizing the coil 70, a circuit is closed through the warning light 160.

From the foregoing description it will be observed that I have disclosed a novel and eflicient cut-01f motion which is particularly designed for use with various types of spinning frames as well as other machines and which is capable of providing for a positive action in response to a strand break occurring at any time. The occurrence of the break is indicated and the retying and resetting of the cut-off unit may be carried out with a minimum of difficulty and labor on the part of the operator.

While I have shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a textile machine of the spinning frame type in which a relatively coarse single strand of roving is drawn under tension from a supply bobbin through a pair of drafting rolls and spun out into a thread of relatively smaller diameter and thereafter Wound about a spindle member, a strand control unit consisting of a strand shearing and holding mechanism, support means for locating the strand shearing and holding mechanism between the said supply bobbin and the drafting rolls, upper and lower guide members secured to the support means, said strand shearing and holding mechanism consisting of fixed cutter elements and a movable cutter element mounted on the support means between the said upper and lower guide and normal-1y occurring in spaced apart relation to define a strand receiving and cutting aperture which is in the path of travel of a strand passing from the upper guide to the lower guide, electromechanical means received on the support means at one side of the cutter element and being operatively connected to one of said cutter elements to produce a cutting action, a sensing device for sensing change in tension in a spun thread as it moves from the drafting rolls to the spindle, said sensing device consisting of a thread gate having fixed wire loop parts and movable wire loop parts normally held apart from the fixed wire loops by movement of the said spun thread therebetween, an electrical switch apparatus secured at one side of the thread gate and responsive to change in position of the movable wire loop parts to close a circuit for energizing the said electromechanical means and actuating said movable cutter element.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1 in which the movable wire loops of the thread gate are secured to a shaft member and said electrical switch apparatus includes an enclosure body located at one end of the thread gate and having said shaft rotatably mounted therethrough, stationary electrical contact means arranged in the enclosure body and a movable electrical contact fixed to said shaft for opening and closing a circuit in response to rotation of the said shaft when the movable Wire loops engage through the fixed wire loops of the thread gate.

3. A structure as defined in claim 1 in which the electrical switch member includes a tubular body secured at the lower side of the said thread gate, means for locating the tubular body and thread gate in an angularly adjustable position between the drafting rolls and the spindle and means for providing rotative movement of the tubular member through a limited arc of travel to arrange the thread gate in an angularly coincident position relative to the angle of the path of travel of a strand guided through the thread gate.

4. In a textile machine of the spinning frame type in which a strand of roving is drawn from a delivery bobbin by means of drafting rolls and spun into a thread of smaller diameter than the diameter of the roving and thereafter wound around a spindle located below the drafting rolls, a cut-off stop motion comprising a strand shearing and holding mechanism, electromechanical means for actuating said strand shearing and holding mechanism, and a tension sensing device mounted for engagement with said strand and operative to energize the electromechanical means when a change in tension occurs in the said strand, said electromechanical means including a control rod and latch apparatus, electrical means including a thread gate switch for disengaging the latch apparatus for moving the rod in one direction, a pivoted linkage responsive to movement of the control rod and connected to the shear mechanism for closing same when the rod is moved, said thread gate switch being located between the drafting rolls and the spindle and being adjustable about a horizontal axis to position the thread gate in desired positions of angularity corresponding to the path of travel of a spun thread extending angularly downward from the drafting rolls to the spindles.

'5. In a textile machine of the spinning frame type in which a strand of roving is drawn from a delivery bobbin by means of drafting rolls and spun into a thread of smaller diameter than the diameter of the roving and thereafter wound around a spindle located below the drafting rolls, a cut-off stop motion comprising a strand shearing and holding mechanism, electromechanical means for actuating said strand shearing and holding mechanism and a tension sensing device mounted for engagement with said strand and operative to energize the electromechanical means when a change in tension occurs in the said strand, said electromechanical means includes a control rod and latch apparatus, electrical means including a thread gate switch for disengaging the latch apparatus for moving the rod in one direction, a pivoted linkage responsive to movement of the control rod and connected to the shear mechanism for closing same when the rod is moved, said electrical means consisting of an electromagnet and an electrical circuit for selectively operating the electromagnet, a thread gate switch supported in the path of movement of the spun thread for closing an electrical circuit through the solenoid in response to a drop in tension resulting from thread breakage and an electrically operated warning signal light and a second switch member controlling said light and simultaneously closing a circuit through the light when the electromagnet is energized.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,555,219 9/1951 Batey 57-86 3,102,378 9/1963 Walker 57-81 3,132,466 5/ 1964 Preisser 5781 STANLEY N. GILREATH, Primary Examiner.

FRANK J. COHEN, A. I. SIDOTI, Assistant Examiners. 

4. IN A TEXTILE MACHINE OF THE SPINNING FRAME TYPE IN WHICH A STRAND OF ROVING IS DRAWN FROM A DELIVERY BOBBIN BY MEANS OF DRAFTING ROLLS AND SPUN INTO A THREAD OF SMALLER DIAMETER THAN THE DIAMETER OF THE ROVING AND THEREAFTER WOUND AROUND A SPINDLE LOCATED BELOW THE DRAFTING ROLLS, A CUT-OFF STOP MOTION COMPRISING A STRAND SHEARING AND HOLDING MECHANISM, ELECTROMECHANICAL MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID STRAND SHEARING AND HOLDING MECHANISM, AND A TENSION SENSING DEVICE MOUNTED FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID STRAND AND OPERATIVE TO ENERGIZE THE ELECTROMECHANICAL MEANS WHEN A CHANGE IN TENSION OCCURS IN THE SAID STRAND, SAID ELECTROMECHANICAL MEANS INCLUDING A CONTROL ROD AND LATCH APPARATUS, ELECTRICAL MEANS INCLUDING A THREAD GATE SWITCH FOR DISENGAGING THE LATCH APPARATUS FOR MOVING THE ROD IN ONE DIRECTION, A PIVOTED LINKAGE RESPONSIVE TO MOVEMENT OF THE CONTROL ROD AND CONNECTED TO THE SHEAR MECHANISM FOR CLOSING SAME WHEN THE ROD IS MOVED, SAID THREAD GATE SWITCH BEING LOCATED BETWEEN THE DRAFTING ROLLS AND THE SPINDLE AND BEING ADJUSTABLE ABOUT A HORIZONTAL AXIS TO POSITION THE THREAD GATE IN DESIRED POSITIONS OF ANGULARITY CORRESPONDING TO THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF A SPUN THREAD EXTENDING ANGULARLY DOWNWARD FROM THE DRAFTING ROLLS TO THE SPINDLES. 